The candidates are still sorting themselves out a bit, but let's take an early look at the Republican candidates for Governor of Illinois.
- Adam Andrzejewski: unknown, no electoral history, but is taking advantage of his early start. In person, his earnestness and speaking cadence remind me a lot of Peter Fitzgerald when he first ran statewide. AA seems to have lots of Ron Paul's supporters, and he has a ton of personal money to spend.
- Joe Birkett: I think the DuPage County State's Attorney is as yet unannounced, and I think he'll end up running for Attorney General once Lisa Madigan announces whether she's running for Governor or Senate. Either way, he's back in the news now for the Brian Dugan / Nicarico case, which can't help. He and Bob Schillerstrom (below) also have a pretty fierce, intra-DuPage County rivalry.
- Bill Brady: re-run of 2006, when Brady's campaign was so lackluster that the Milk Duds accused him of being a stalking horse for Judy Baar Topinka. He has no organization, and is still carrying a $650,000 campaign debt from his 2006 run. Currently, as Rich Miller puts it, "Bill Brady reiterated his stance yesterday that the governor should sign the budget that Brady voted against."
- Kirk Dillard: No announcement yet, but supposed to be one next week. Dillard has great credentials (Gov. Edgar's Chief of Staff, well respected state legislator, etc.) but still catches heat for doing an early TV commercial for Barack Obama in Iowa, though he later was a McCain delegate. Lots of my friends are supporting Dillard, and he seems to be putting together a terrific organization.
- Matt Murphy (website is blank): Yet another state senator, but one with a much lower statewide profile than Dillard or Brady. Murphy seems to be the choice of Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, which is odd given that two of her other members are also running for Governor, with a number of others considering other offices.
- Bob Schillerstrom: DuPage County Board Chair who has never run statewide. He has about $650,000 in the bank from his DuPage County campaigns. His message is that he's not connected to the mess in Springfield, and has executive experience, but given his public feud with Birkett and his lack of statewide organization, I wonder what his base will be.
Lots will change between now and petition circulation, not the least of which is Lisa Madigan's announcement. How do you see the GOP field at this point?
I want someone that the GOP will support wholeheartedly and work to win. In the past, the Illinois Republican Party has acted as if it doesn't care if it wins elections or not. I want a party and candidates who aren't content to be in the minority forever. I don't think Brady can win--he's too conservative to get much independent support. I think Dillard is a good possibiilty, but the Obama thing is really problematic.
One of Adam Andrzejewski's sisters was a close childhood friend of mine. I can't say that I agree with him politically, but I wish him luck.
"Currently, as Rich Miller puts it, "Bill Brady reiterated his stance yesterday that the governor should sign the budget that Brady voted against.""
I love Republican political pundits. They see no gray areas. They cannot comprehend complexities.
They are the very definition of ignorant.
I'm still holding out for Obie for Governor.
"I love Republican political pundits. They see no gray areas. They cannot comprehend complexities.
They are the very definition of ignorant."
Rich Miller is neither a Republican political pundit, nor is he ignorant.
Dillard might be able to get both sides of the aisle to work together if he could make it out of a primary.
A Prediction
The sad news is that when faced by a Democratic governor and senator who are very weak and ripe for defeat - the GOP will decide to go on several rounds of interfighting over who is a RINO and who is not - who is pro family and who is not - who is pro taypayer and who is not, etc, etc, and by the time the dust clears it will find that it has killed off its chances - and the Democrats will win again in 2010. Maybe they will bring back Allan Keynes as he did so well the last time
Greg Novak
What is a RINO? Are those the republicans that are socially liberal, or the ones that spend money like Bush. I don't get the terminology.
Go Whitesox!!!
Schillerstrom's base will be people who want him out of DuPage.
Arn't you working for Dillard?
"Rich Miller is neither a Republican political pundit, nor is he ignorant."
You missed the point entirely, as you usually do.
"Arn't you working for Dillard?"
No. If I do work for any of the statewides, I'll let you know.
"You missed the point entirely, as you usually do."
No - you seem to be trying to ascribe Miller's words to me, simply because I quoted them, and I'm just pointing out the stupidity of doing so. Rich Miller is a great reporter and a good friend, but he and I don't agree on everything.
What you have been waiting for a response to your Brady comments.
Would you call Lincoln a re-run?
So what kinds of organization do the rest of the candidates have IP, Brady has No organization?
Your saying that because one of your opponents in your election calls you names your not a credible candidate, boy that never happens in an election.
Debt in an election man we are never going to have another election in your world.
Of course Brady's right about Quinn's budget if he wants a budget cut, it may not be what Brady wants but it maybe the best we could get out of a democrat GA.
Will there be a difference between Dillard and the democrat? Your right nothing wrong with helping Obama get into office?
I'm wondering what ever happened to Jim Ryan. You know, the Ryan who ran against Blago. I voted for him when he ran for governor. I'll always wonder if he lost because people thought he was related to George.
As I told you personally, Run, you are the best thing Brady has going for him organizationally, in my opinion.
As an example, a few weeks ago, he sent out a email bragging about a poll that had him getting absolutely crushed by Lisa Madigan statewide. To me, the email illustrated two things.
The first is that despite running statewide in 2006 and campaigning almost nonstop since, Brady still has no significant network of supporters or base outside of central Illinois.
The second, and more important, is his campaign actually thought it was a good idea to email supporters with a poll showing him getting crushed!
I know you're working hard for him, and you're loyal to a fault, but I really don't know what you're hoping for out of his candidacy.
Brady has no spine at all. More GOP votes going to the Green Party, again.
Why is the GOP even bothering?
Lisa Madigan is a shoo-in. Nothing interesting here. Move along. Nothing to see.
Crushed I don't think so and Madigan may run for Senate. It's early and Madigan is in office has greater name recognition and is considered because of her father able to win any office but Brady isn't that far out.
what you're hoping for out of his candidacy. I hope the republicans can win.
I think Brady has the best chance of winning because he has better organization and name recognition then any of the other candidates now and will in the end.
"Crushed I don't think so and Madigan may run for Senate. It's early and Madigan is in office has greater name recognition and is considered because of her father able to win any office but Brady isn't that far out."
This is what the Brady campaign sent me on May 4:
The fact that they're bragging about those numbers leads me to seriously question their judgment.
IP, you don't question Dillard's judgement endorsing Obama? You have a single email vs. an all out televised media campaign.
"IP, you don't question Dillard's judgement endorsing Obama? You have a single email vs. an all out televised media campaign."
Sure, and I have. But to me, that endorsement is to me the largest blemish on Dillard's record, and could actually be an asset in a general election in a heavily blue state.
On the other had, Brady has had four years to put together an organization, agenda, or compelling rationale for his candidacy, and so far hasn't. For a guy who's been campaigning statewide since 2005, don't you wonder when he's going to get started?
What this state needs is an Obama Conservative who will do eerything the Democrats do, but at least give us our patronage jobs back.
Go Dillard!
IP I agree with your assessment of Brady. He hasn't made any real inroads with anyone that I talk with. Even here in central Illinois where Brady has large connections, he isn't making anyone real excited about his run. He got very little of the vote last time in the 2006 Primary, even with a bufoon like Oberweis running. He is a good State Senator, but just isn't getting the traction he is going to need to make any real difference.
Thank you for the link to the Adam Andrzejewski article from yesterday, IP.
Great read!
That's funny the people I talk to like Brady and are quite happy he is running for Governor again. I talk to a lot of people who are in and out of leadership positions in the party and not just in this county.
Valerie,
If you want to re-post your comment without the rumors about candidates' personal lives, feel free.
Why do people claim that Dillard endorsed Obama? He endorsed McCain, and was a McCain delegate.
I'm not offended that he appeared in that Obama ad.And, as was pointed out earlier, if he gets by the primary, that will probably help us put a Republican in the governor's office. The GOP will not be successful in any run for governor if we don't pull a lot of Independents and Reagan Ds into the mix.
I think it's time to start a rumor about Sarah Palin moving to Illinois.
Didn't she buy a house in Royal?
I hear she can see Canada from her new house.
For the edification of trolls:
(720 ILCS 5/16D‑3) (from Ch. 38, par. 16D‑3)
Sec. 16D‑3. Computer Tampering.
(a) A person commits the offense of computer tampering when he knowingly and without the authorization of a computer's owner, as defined in Section 15‑2 of this Code, or in excess of the authority granted to him:
(1) Accesses or causes to be accessed a computer or
any part thereof, a computer network, or a program or data;
(2) Accesses or causes to be accessed a computer or
any part thereof, a computer network, or a program or data, and obtains data or services;
(3) Accesses or causes to be accessed a computer or
any part thereof, a computer network, or a program or data, and damages or destroys the computer or alters, deletes or removes a computer program or data;
(4) Inserts or attempts to insert a "program" into a
computer or computer program knowing or having reason to believe that such "program" contains information or commands that will or may damage or destroy that computer, or any other computer subsequently accessing or being accessed by that computer, or that will or may alter, delete or remove a computer program or data from that computer, or any other computer program or data in a computer subsequently accessing or being accessed by that computer, or that will or may cause loss to the users of that computer or the users of a computer which accesses or which is accessed by such "program";
(5) Falsifies or forges electronic mail transmission
information or other routing information in any manner in connection with the transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic mail through or into the computer network of an electronic mail service provider or its subscribers;
3 Score + 10
Keith Hays